JRC4558D – Made
by Japan Radio Corporation (JRC). Used in the original
TS808s and TS9s. Ibanez later changed the chip used in their pedals.
The JRC4558D is actually a very inexpensive chip that’s
not considered Hi-Fi and was chosen because of its inexpensive
cost and not for the tone it produced. It just happened
to sound great when used with the Tube Screamers original
circuitry.
This chip has a little bit smoother gain than the RC4558P which is
considered a more Hi-Fi chip. I like the JRC4558D in the
SD-1, it's smoother gain in the top end helps to offset
the extra hair in the SD-1's gain. I prefer the
RC4558P in a Tube
Screamer
because
the Tube Screamer circuit produces a smoother gain and
the RC4558P has a little more high end grit than a JRC4558D.

JRC4558DD – Made
by Japan Radio Corporation (JRC). This is a Higher Gain & Smoother
version of the JRC4558D (notice one has one "D" and the
other two "DD"s).
It's less Hi-Fi and has a smoother gain structure with a slight
rounding off in the highs.
This
"DD" chip
sounds
surprisingly
good in an
SD-1. This is the stock chip you'll find in most SD-1s and TS7s.
This is a good match for my SD-808. Try it and I think you'll
agree. My SD-808 has clearer top end and more hair. The JRC4558DD
tames the SD-808 a bit in the highs. Depending on your amp you
might like this chip better. I have a few of these. Contact me
if you want one, I don't have these listed for sell on my pedal
mods page because most people write them off as being a bad chip.
But, who cares what others say, the proof is in the tone and I
say they sound great with some SD-1 setups. Of course, YMMV.

RC4558P – Made
by Texas Instruments. Also used in the original TS808s and TS9s.
Ibanez later changed the
chip used
in their pedals. The RC4558P is also
a very inexpensive chip but considered to be a bit more Hi-Fi than the JRC4558D.
It just happened to sound great when used in a Tube Screamer
circuit.
These
are
still
very
popular
today
and
are
a great sounding
chip. Very similar tone-wise to the JRC4558D, has a little more high end
grit.

RC4559P – Made
by Texas Instruments. This is a more Hi-Fi lower noise chip than
it's brother the RC4558P. The EQ and gain structure is a bit different
than the RC4558P. I like this chip because of it's lower noise
when used in a GE-7. I also like this chip in a SD-1 and Tube Screamer
circuits. This chip changes the EQ of the gain and helps tame the
mids in a Tube Screamer.

LP353 -
Made by Texas Instruments. Very similar tone-wise to the JRC4558D
and RC4558P. Maybe a little less gain but
an excellent sounding chip. Subtle
differences.
This chip sounds excellent in a Tube Screamer, Daddy-O or SD-1. This is
a very popular chip with pedal modders.

NE5532 -
Made by Texas Instruments. Very similar tone-wise to the JRC4558D
and RC4558P. This is a more Hi-Fi, lower noise chip than both the
JRC4558D and the RC4558P. I really like the tone and gain of this
chip. In some ways I like it
better than a JRC4558D or RC4558P. Rich, smooth gain with nice overtones.
This is a very popular chip with pedal modders.

TL072 -
Made by Texas Instruments. Very similar tone-wise to the JRC4558D
and RC4558P. This chip has a very interesting
tone. A little more complex
than any of the other chips I sell. Very defined harmonics, especially
at higher volume. This chip is very Hi-Fi with low noise and a
great sounding gain structure.

OPA2134PA – Made
by Burr Brown. This is the most expensive opamp chip I sell. This
is a very popular chip with audiophiles. It’s low noise and
excellent sound properties make it a popular choice with pedal modders.
I especially like this chip in a Boss SD-1. It has a little more
edge than a JRC4558D or RC4558P
and is a tad cleaner with a flatter EQ which makes it a great chip
to tame the mids of a Tube Screamer or SD-1. Very rich and defined
gain with excellent harmonics and note detail.
You
can’t
go wrong with this chip. Highly recommended.

LM308N Ð Made by National Semiconductor. If you want that Vintage RAT tone that made the RAT one of the most popular distortion pedals of all time then you'll need to replace the stock raspy sounding OPO7DP. The LM308N will give the circuit a very warm and smooth fat gain structure.

DISCLAIMER -Building
pedal mods can be a very challenging task. Trying to create
mods and shape a pedals tone is not easy. When you take into
consideration
the wide variety of guitars, pickups, amps, speakers, etc. it becomes
a challenge trying to develop mods that will satisfy every players
particular needs. I test all my mods with a variety of tube and solid
state amps and I won't release a mod until they sound right on each
of them. But, please realize it's just impossible to match one mod
to every amp and guitar combination. This is why I suggest everyone
listen closely to the mp3s I supply and pick a mod that you feel
will suit your particular setup. This is why I tell you what each
mod does so you can shape your tone for that pedal. If you're
a member of a guitar or effects forum ask other members that have
purchased my
mods which
setup they
use and which mod they suggest for a particular tone you
are looking for. Monte Allums

Daddy-O
TNT Mod -I
really didn't hold much hope for this one. Sounded really
fizzy and ratty stock. The LED clippers added way too much
bass and fizz in the gain on the stock pedal. After the
mod notes will literally explode off the neck of the guitar.
Next
to my
SD-808 mod
this
is my favorite modded pedal for mid to higher gain tones.
Here are my recommended settings for this pedal after the
mod.

At
these settings you can use the guitars volume to control the amount
of drive. If you're looking for a powerful punchy tone this is
it. This mod
sounds great with every tube and solid state amp I used it with.
This is not a good mod for someone looking for a clean boost. But
if
you're
looking for a take no prisoners overdrive that is explosive, this
is the perfect pedal mod for you.

Daddy-O
TNT Tri-Gain Mod -The
Tri-Gain switch will add 2 extra gains to the TNT. The
LED side has less gain and is more coarse but is also fatter
and thicker. Through a clean or slightly over-driven solid
state or tube amp it is one of the most explosive punchy
and crunchy mods I offer. Do yourself a favor and add the
Tri-Gain switch if you have the regular TNT. You can thank
me later.

Diode
Lift has the most volume followed by the LED side and the lowest
volume will be the 1N4002 side. TIP: Try a JRC3458DD in this pedal.
It's my favorite chip. Very smooth creamy vibe.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

MXR
Dyna Comp DIY Pedal Mod - I
love the rubbery sponginess of this compressor after the mod. This
is a chicken-pickers dream. The mod takes away the clanky
distortion that's present in the stock pedal and smoothes
out the attack
of the compression. If you're looking for compression with
attitude this is it. I suggest adjusting the internal attack
pot to taste to match your playing style. Keep in mind that
the attack trim pot has a limited range. Turning too far
left or right will negatively affect the tone of
the pedal. Adjust to the right for more attack and left for
less. Here are my recommended
settings for this pedal after the mod.

For
more pick attack try moving the attack pot further right. For a
more transparent tone try the Sensitivity at 12 O'clock or less.
Adjust output to desired level for matching level or clean boost.
This is not for someone looking for a transparent compression.
For transparent compression I suggest my CS3 mod. For compression
with
fattening and color this is the mod I suggest.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

Tube
Screamer DIY
Pedal Mods - For
a smooth round clean boost or smooth thick overdrive or
for a tad of drive to boost that tube amp into tonal bliss
this is the mod for you. For a tad fatter EQ with less
mid hump I suggest using the Burr Brown chip with this
mod. Here are my recommended
settings for this pedal after the mod.

Adjust
the drive to taste for these settings. Tone adjustment will also
need to be adjusted for your particular setup. These settings will
also apply for the TS9, TS7, TS5, and TS9DX. NOTE:
I use a Tube Screamer when recording Bass here in my studio. It
helps to add a thick fullness that helps the tracks stand out in
a mix. When using it for recording try the Clean Boost setting
above and
adjust
the
drive
to taste. I also recommend trying a Tube Screamer for Bass in a
live setup. It's just a great effect for thickening the signal
and making it stand out in a mix, live or recorded.

TS9
Tri-Gain
Mod -The
Tri-Gain switch will add 2 extra gains to the TS9. The
LED side has less gain and is more coarse but is also fatter
and thicker. This might be the best overdrive available
anywhere. Think Landgraff and Eternity here. It puts the
TS9 in that territory. The presence switch on the bright
side with the diode lift or LED side and the drive at 12
O'clock or less and the tone down around 7 O'clock gives
the most incredible fat rich tone with this heavenly clarity
that you'll find in any pedal at any price point. No hype
folks, this is a smokin mod.

Diode Lift has the most volume followed by the LED side and the lowest volume will be the 1N914 side. TIP: Experiment with the Presence switch On and the Tri-Gain switch to the LED or Diode Lift side. You'll need to turn the tone knob down but the smooth fat silky tone drips with fat sassy tone. No joke, I have played a Strat for hours basking in the tones I get from my HRD. The HRD is sort of a dark amp tone-wise and the brightness of the TS9 Tri-Gain is a match made in tone Heaver! NOTE: Some have e-mailed
me about excess noise this mod produces. First, anytime you add
a presence mod to a pedal you boost the high frequencies thus boosting
noise. In other words, your amplifying noise that is already in
the circuit. I'm afraid there's nothing I or you can do about it.
Just go easy on the tone knob.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

BD-H2O
& Regular BD-2 DIY
Pedal Mods - If
you are looking for a transparent clean boost and one that
will react exactly like the breakup of a driven tube amp
this is the pedal mod for you. Both my regular BD-2 mod
and the popular BD-H2O are perfect for these applications.
The main difference between my regular BD-2 and
the H2O is the gain and the EQ of the pedal after the mod.
My regular BD-2 mod has a slight mid boost and a more
fuzzy-type gain structure. The H2O is totally flat in the
EQ and has a more smooth and dynamic gain structure. When
trying to pick one over the other I suggest listening to
the mp3s, they are very true to the result of the mod.

Adjust
the drive to taste for these settings. Tone will also
need to be adjusted for your particular setup. The transparency
and dynamics of these mods are pretty amazing. The ariness in the
top end on the H2O is spectacular, the best available on anyone's
mod for the BD-2. The harshness is completely removed on both mods.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

SD-808
& Regular SD-1 DIY
Pedal Mods - For
a smooth, round, clean boost or thick overdrive like a
Plexi Marshall or for a tad of hair to boost that tube
amp into
tonal bliss
this is the mod for you. For a tad fatter EQ with less
noise I suggest using the Burr Brown chip with this
mod. Here are my recommended settings for this pedal after
the mod.

Adjust
the drive to taste for these settings. Tone will also
need to be adjusted for your particular setup. For a smoother over
drive I suggest my regular SD-1 mod. For a more Hi-Fi sounding
pedal with enhanced note clarity the SD-808 is the ticket. For
clean boost applications I recommend the Burr Brown chip and I
also recommend not doing the 2X gain mod. I also suggest the symmetrical
mod for those looking for a smoother over drive like found in the
Tube Screamer. Also, try the JRC4558DD in the SD-808. This chip is
a bit smoother and can tame the grit of this mod a bit.

SD-1
GT Mod - For
a smooth, round, clean boost or thick overdrive like a
Plexi Marshall or for a tad of hair to boost that tube
amp into tonal bliss this is the mod for you. For a tad
fatter EQ with less noise I suggest using the Burr Brown
chip with this mod. Here are my recommended settings for
this pedal after the mod.

The
tones available with this mod are endless. Two of these used together
is a force to be rekoned with. NOTE:
Some have e-mailed me about excess noise this mod produces. First,
anytime you add a presence mod to a pedal you boost the high frequencies
thus boosting noise. In other words, you're amplifying noise that
is already in the circuit. I'm afraid there's nothing I or you
can do about it. Just go easy on the tone knob.

Regular
DS-1 DIY
Pedal Mods - For
an all out distortion with the character of a Marshall
amp this is the mod I suggest. The spiky, raspy highs
and gain of the stock DS-1 are removed and replaced with
a very smooth FAT harmonically rich distortion. If you're
looking for an over drive this is not the mod for you.
For a thick
take no prisoners distortion this is the ticket. Here are
my recommended settings for this pedal after the mod.

Adjust
the drive to taste for these settings. Tone will also
need to be adjusted for your particular setup. My regular DS-1
mod is very different than my Rectifier mod. It has overall less
volume and the gain structure is not as scooped as my Rectifier
mod. I suggest listening to the mp3s for a more accurate representation
of the mod. They are very true to the tone of the modded pedals.

DS-1
Rectifier DIY Pedal Mods - My
Rectifier DS-1 mod offers a little more variety of tone
than my regular DS-1 mod. After the Rectifier mod the tone
and distortion knobs become very interactive rendering
a wide variety of tones. You can easily go from smooth
over
drive-type distortion to thick sassy distortion with this
mod. This mod has a scooped EQ for you metal heads but
can also achieve an almost over drive-type distortion for
you rockers. This is a very versatile pedal after the mod.
Here are my recommended settings for this pedal after the
mod.

Adjust
the drive to taste for these settings. Tone will also
need to be adjusted for your particular setup. My regular DS-1
mod is very different than my Rectifier mod. It has overall less
volume and the gain structure is not as scooped as my Rectifier
mod. I suggest listening to the mp3s for a more accurate representation
of the mod. They are very true to the tone of the modded pedals.

Rectifier
Tri-Gain Mod -The
Tri-Gain switch will add 2 extra gains to the DS1. The
LED side has less gain, more volume and is more coarse
but is also fatter and thicker. The diode lift gives you
a
huge
volume
boost
and is a recipe for crunch heaven. The 1N4002 side and
the least volume and gives you the gain of the regular
Rectifer mod. This is one the
best distortion/overdrive mods available anywhere.
This
is my
best selling Tri-Gain
mod that I sell.

Diode
Lift has the most volume followed by the LED side and the lowest
volume will be the 1N4002 side.
The Tone and Distortion knobs become very interactive after this
mod. With the Tri-Gain mod the DS1 becomes not only a great distortion
but can also do clean boost as well as overdrive. The LED side
is just pure tonal bliss. FAT, thick gain that takes on this spongy
vibe that will rock your world. This blows the doors off any other
DS1 mod available and if you don't think so I'll refund your money
no questions asked!

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

CS-3
Regular & Opto
DIY Pedal Mods - The
only difference between my regular CS-3 mod and my Opto
mod is a very slight fattening of the signal you'll get
with the Opto mod. Other than that they are both sonically
the same. This is the most transparent compressor after
the mod that I have ever played. Absolutely amazing sustain
with very little noise, even with the attack and sustain
pushed. The Opto gives you this amazingly FAT and transparent
compression that will thicken both clean and over driven
tones. I even use the Opto mod for recording vocals and
keyboards here in my studio. Keep in mind that if you want
to use it for
recording vocals you'll need a Direct Box to convert the
balanced mic signal. Run the unbalanced output from the
Direct Box into
the input
of the CS3. Here are my recommended settings for this pedal
after the mod.

Adjust
the sustain and attack to taste for these settings. Tone
will also need to be adjusted for your particular setup. I'm still
amazed
at just how good the CS-3 sounds after these mods. The murky mids
and tone sucking noise of the stock pedal are removed and replaced
with the most amazing transparent FAT compression that you'll only
hear in compressors costing 2 to 3X as much!

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

Regular
& MT-2 Sustainia DIY
Pedal Mods - Both
of my MT-2 mods cover a lot of tonal territory. You have
the option to remove the nasal mids. There are two capacitors
you remove in both mods that will flatten the EQ. DO
NOT REMOVE them if you want to keep the scooped mids. If
you are into Metal I recommend not removing these two capacitors.
These are Mods (A) & (B) of both the regular MT-2 and
Sustainia mods. Also, my Sustainia mod gives you the
option of transforming
the MT-2 into an almost over drive-type pedal. Or you can
add the two 1N34As for a thicker saturated gain. Or you
can add a switch to toggle back and forth between the two
(this switch is not included in the Sustainia mod). For
those that are having Chad Matthews do the mod for you,
you can
have
Chad
add
the switch
for
an
additional
charge. Contact Chad for prices by clicking here.

There's
a ton of tones available here. The sweepable EQ knobs will give
you a wide variety of distortion and gain. I keep all the tone
knobs at 12 O'clock and adjust the level and distortion to taste.
But, keep in mind I'm a praise and worship, contemporary rock type
player. For other genres I would suggest experimenting with removing
mods (A) & (B) in each of the regular and Sustainia mods. Leaving
those caps in will render a more metal type distortion. But, you
be the judge. Test the pedal for a while with different mods. You
may find that leaving out one or more mods will better suit your
playing style. This is the case with all the mods I sell. You don't
have to do them all. Test the pedal with and without certain mods.
You may discover you like the pedal better buy picking and choosing.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

OD-3
DIY Pedal Mods - I
opted to not radically change the OD-3. In all honesty
the pedal sounds great right out of the box. What I have
done is remove the flabby bass that exists in the gain
structure. I have also smoothed out the gain. After the
mod the OD-3 will sound very similar to one of my modded
BD-2s. The transparency of the OD-3 is retained and the
EQ is flattened a bit. Think of what you would get if my
BD-H2O and TS9 mods had a baby, her name would be Supra!
Here are my recommended settings for this pedal after the
mod.

Adjust
the drive and tone to taste for these settings. The variety of
tones available are pretty amazing with this mod. For transparent
clean boost and thick fat drive this is the pedal mod for you.
No longer will the bass become flabby at high gain setting. This
mod firms up the bass and mids and evens out the gain.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

RECOMMENDED
PEDAL SIGNAL CHAIN

Below
is my recommended pedal arrangement for all the pedals we offer
mods for. I do encourage experimentation, but this is the signal
chain pedal placement I personally use and recommend.

Compressor
(CS3 or Dyna Comp)

Wah
Pedal

Volume
Pedal

GE-7
(optional)

BD-2
(regular & BD-H2O)

Tube
Screamer (TS9 Tri-Gain, TS9, TS7, TS5, TS9DX)

OD-3

SD-1
(regular & SD-808)

DS-1
(regular & Rectifier)

Daddy-O

RAT
2

MT-2
(regular & Sustainia)

GE7

Modulation
Effects

Delay

For more tonal variety I suggest using two modded GE7 EQs. One to shape the tone prior to over drive and distortion and one after them. The advantage is that the boost and cut of the signal level that both will give you. Remember, the signal level affects the way the signal is clipped going into a distortion or over drive. By varying the signal and frequency levels you can shape the gain and tone of your signal.

TIP: The Tri-Gain and Dual Gain switches add volume and the levels are different depending on the components selected. This can be an issue if you need your setup to maintain a certain volume level. By placing a compressor after the gain pedals you can tame the volume and still enjoy the benefits of the different gain setting the switches give you. The compressor will act as a limiter and even out the volume differences. The effect is also very cool. Try it and I think you'll agree.

Also,
keep in mind that if your amp has an effects loop you can insert
a compressor, EQ, delay or modulation effect there. I run a
stereo setup here in my studio with a Line 6 DL4 being the last
effect in my signal chain. Since the DL4 is stereo out I run
both outputs into my 1975 Fender Super Reverb and my 2000 Fender
Hot Rod Deluxe. These are only suggestions. What works for me may
not
be what works best for you. But, this will give you a good starting
point. Remember, the most important part
of the signal chain is YOU! Effects are great fun and are only
limited by your imagination!

DISCLAIMER-My
Mods are intended to be used by individuals that are 18 years
of age or older unless accompanied by a supervising parent
or guardian. Soldering Guns can cause serious injury if not
used properly. Always take the proper precautions when soldering.
Always unplug power from the pedal when performing these modifications.
We cannot be held responsible if you hurt yourself, hurt someone
else or destroy property. When purchasing our mods you agree
to comply with this disclaimer statement and fully realize
any risks that may be involved with performing any of our modifications.

Please
also know that we cannot be held responsible if you ruin your pedal.
These mods have proven to work for hundreds of our satisfied clients.
If you follow the instructions we send you to the letter and check
the pedal after each component change you will not ruin your pedal.

Boss®,
Ibanez®, Dan Electro®, Fender®, Strat®, Stratocaster®,
Tele®, Telecaster®, Dunlop® and Peterson® are registered
trademarks of their respective companies. All rights reserved.
monteallums.com, LLC has no affiliation with any of these companies.